by Rebecca Blades

Created on: January 05, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

Menstrual pain? Wait...I'm waiting for all the men on site to log off! Okay ladies, here's the scoop! There are several couses for the pain! I'm a Registered Nurse so not only do I experience this, I had to be tested on it! How fair is that?

Back to basics. First, the uterus builds up blood and nutrients in preparation for pregnancy every month. We (fortunately) are ot pregnant every month so the uterus must expel that "preparation", in order to begin again preparing for the possibility of pregnancy the next month! To do this the uterus

contracts. Contracts...remember moms? As in contractions...like labor only not
at the olympic level! These contractions vary woman to woman. Some feel no more
than a mild discomfort at the beginning of their flow...some unfortunate women
feel very strong contractions, back aches, pressure in the genital area, etcetera.

There is a hormonal message sent from the brain to the uterus to say "Okay guys, all clear! No pregnancy, proceed with menstruation!" (OKay it's a little more complicated than that. That hormone, with the message also affects us. It
"tells" us to retain water, it frequently gives us headaches, it affects our moods.

My favorite jokke ever is a Robin Williams gem that says: "If there is ever a woman president we will have no war.....but we'll be in serious negotiations every 28 days!" (Oh come on laugh!)

Cure? Nope. There is none short of change of life or hysterectomy. Help dealing with the pain? Yes! Midol (despite multi-million dollars spent on ads)
is no better for you than tylenol or generic Ibuprofen (Motrin)-try not to take aspirin as it thins the blood and you've already got that flowing. Warmth applied to the abdomen in the form of dry heat (heating pad, microwavable pad) seems to quell contractions.

Drink eight glasses of water a day-you should be doing this every day-but be sure to do it during your period! Many think since they are retaining water that's not what they should do. In fact-drinking the water triggers your kidneys to work harder to expel that excess water gain many get with their period.

Mood changes? They are real. Hormones actually effect the balance of brain chemicals and send us in to lower lows, and shall we say, less tolelrant mindsets.
If mood swings are so severe they are affecting your relationships, please talk to your physician. SOmetimes antidepressants can help even the mood swings.

Other than the above, remember that some old wives tales are valid. Many feel relief from frinking chamomile tea or green tea. Some get relief from mild exercise. Experiment with healthy behaviors and see if they work for you. Until then embrace your womanhood, know this is a natural process, and this too shall pass!

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Blades.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.